9. What is the role of women in agriculture and development?

Gender, that is socially constructed relations between men and
women, is an organizing element of existing farming systems
worldwide and a determining factor of ongoing agricultural
restructuring. Current trends in agricultural market
liberalization and in the reorganization of farm work, as well
as the rise of environmental and
sustainability concerns
are redefining the links between gender and development. The
proportion of women in agricultural production and postharvest
activities ranges from 20 to 70%; their involvement is
increasing in many developing countries, particularly with the
development of export-oriented irrigated farming, which is
associated with a growing demand for female labor, including
migrant workers.

Whereas these dynamics have in some ways brought benefits, in
general, the largest proportion of rural women worldwide
continues to face deteriorating health and work conditions,
limited access to education and control over natural resources,
insecure employment and low income. This situation is due to a
variety of factors, including the growing competition on
agricultural markets which increases the demand for flexible and
cheap labor, growing pressure on and conflicts over natural
resources, the diminishing support by governments for
small-scale farms and the reallocation of economic resources in
favor of large agroenterprises. Other factors include increasing
exposure to risks related to natural disasters and environmental
changes, worsening access to water, increasing occupational and
health risks.

Despite progress made in national and international policies
since the first world conference on women in 1975, urgent action
is still necessary to implement gender and social
equity in AKST
[Agricultural Knowledge Science and Technology] policies and
practices if we are to better address gender issues as integral
to development processes. Such action includes strengthening the
capacity of public institutions and NGOs to improve the
knowledge of women’s changing forms of involvement in farm and
other activities in AKST. It also requires giving priority to
women’s access to education, information, science and
technology, and extension services to enable improving women’s
access, ownership and control of economic and natural resources.
To ensure such access, ownership and control legal measures,
appropriate credit schemes, support for women’s income
generating activities and the reinforcement of women’s
organizations and networks are needed. This, in turn, depends on
strengthening women’s ability to benefit from market-based
opportunities by institutions and policies giving explicit
priority to women farmer groups in value chains.

A number of other changes will strengthen women’s
contributions to agricultural production and
sustainability. These
include support for public services and investment in rural
areas in order to improve women’s living and working conditions;
giving priority to technological development policies targeting
rural and farm women’s needs and recognizing their knowledge,
skills and experience in the production of food and the
conservation of
biodiversity; and assessing
the negative effects and risks of farming practices and
technology, including pesticides on women’s health, and taking
measures to reduce use and exposure. Finally, if we are to
better recognize women as integral to
sustainable
development, it is critical to ensure gender balance in AKST
decision-making at all levels and provide mechanisms to hold
AKST organizations accountable for progress in the above areas.